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“ It’ s exhilarating to play with such an extremely talented group of musicians,” Tammera said.“ Carolyn performed violin / fiddle in New York for 30 years, in many various genres, such as classical, gypsy jazz, folk, etc. Jeff can play guitar upside down and backwards. He plays classical, flamenco, jazz, rock, blues, and has taught on the collegiate level. Tom is a world-renown hurdy gurdy player.” Tammera said she prefers performing as a band.“ I like ensemble work, probably for the element of surprise. It’ s really fun and interesting to see what others bring to a tune,” she said.“ I can stand alone as a soloist, but it’ s much more enjoyable to play off of others.” No matter the form, Tammera said music completes her.“ I love playing music, especially the kind of music I play, and when I can be creative and improvise. Somehow it completes who I am, more than anything else does. I’ ve dabbled in various art forms— visual arts, dance, theatre, and none of the other forms, though I really enjoy them, does what music does inside me,” she said.“ It’ s exhilarating, magical, passionate, deep— complete. I don’ t really know how to describe it. It’ s like I’ m doing what I was created to do.”
While three of the band members live in Brown County, Celtica meets once a week to practice, and performs as many as 50 shows a year.
The band performs at home parties as well as prestigious affairs including International and Fortune 500 corporate dinners, The Indianapolis Children’ s Museum, Artsgarden In Circle Centre Mall, The Indiana State Museum, Chautauqua of the Arts, the Scottish Festival and Ethnic Expo in Columbus, the Highland Festival in Trafalgar, and at half-time for the Indiana Pacers. They even performed at a dinner with a guest list that included former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev.
50 Our Brown County • March / April 2014
photo by Marti Garvey
Martha Tedrowe, of Brown County, has been a long-time Celtica fan.
“ I have long been a fan of international music. When I lived in Chicago I spent much of my free time at the Old Town School of Folk Music, where I was the volunteer coordinator. The school featured concerts with musical groups from all over the world,” Martha said.“ Irish music is the basis of many modern forms of music and Tammera and her band carry on this important art form. Tammera is scholarly in her approach to her music and plays beautifully.”
Brown County, Martha says, is the perfect place for a band like Celtica.
“ Brown County is a special place, with its wonderful topography, scenic beauty, and numerous artists in residence of a variety of media.”
You can find Celtica on the web at < www. celticaband. com >, < www. facebook. com / CelticaBand >, or
< www. youtube. com / user / celticavideos >. •
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
• MARCH 8: Celtica Live, 1:45 to 2:45 p. m. Parkside Retirement Center, 3660 Central Avenue, Columbus
• MARCH 11: Friends of the Brown County Library Program, 7 p. m. Brown County Public Library
• MARCH 13: Celtica / Honeywell’ s Dinner and Chamber Series Concert, 6 to 7 p. m. The Honeywell Center, 275 West Market Street, Wabash
• MARCH 16: Celtica at St. John’ s Lutheran Church, 9:30 a. m. St. John’ s Lutheran Church, 181 West Main Street, Peru
• MARCH 16: Celtica Concert at St. Patrick’ s Church, 4 p. m. St. Patrick’ s Church, West Main Street, Lagro